This multiple case study explored how the communication of institutional strengths in fundraising appeal messages was related to successful fundraising outcomes in Tier One Research Extensive Universities. Shannon and Weaver's (1963) information processing model of communication provided a theoretical framework for the study. Six universities which had achieved successful fundraising outcomes (based upon percentage change in private giving dollars from 2003 to 2005) were selected from the top third of a population of 74 universities, using a maximum variation strategy (based upon enrollment, total giving dollars and public or private university type). University data was gathered from disparate sources including participant interviews, publications, web-based fundraising appeals, and fundraising appeal letters, and analyzed to identify salient codes and themes. Multiple data verification procedures were contributed to the trustworthiness of the data including triangulation of data sources, member checking, inter-coder agreement (84.5%), external supervision, and full description of cases.The researcher had no established relationship with any of the fundraising
officials interviewed, in order to reduce the ... Institutional Research Board (IRB)
required forms including Protocol Template, Interview Protocols, and Proposedanbsp;...